There’s no house restoration too challenging for Rae Jackson, a.k.a. “The Fix-It Lady”. There’s no fixing the past, though. Like the day she left college. A semester of flirting with her English professor ended when he spanked her to the best orgasm of her life. Afraid of her own eager willingness to comply with the sexy Dom’s commands—no matter what—she fled.

Yet not even five years can dim her memory of his masterful touch.Conn never forgot the one student who gave him a big fat “F” on the greatest test of his life. After all these years, he’s still haunted by his uncharacteristic loss of control. When he finds the very object of his shame—and desire—crawling around under his grandmother’s house, he swears to do anything to win Rae’s trust.

Rae finds herself helpless against Conn’s slow seduction. Exactly the way she likes it. Instead of poetry, this time she learns the erotic pleasure to be found in bondage…and submission to the sexiest professor alive.

Warning: Explicit sex, spanking, light bondage, a crazy old lady who talks to ghosts, and one lethal pink parasol.

Joely Sue Burkhart is another author I discovered via Twitter. Can’t remember who but someone tweeted about the release of DEAR SIR, I’M YOURS and I succumbed and clicked on the link and I was sold. Downloaded the prequel (LETTERS) from Joely Sue Burkhart’s website, bought DEAR SIR, I’M YOURS at My Bookstore And More and started reading immediately. All I can say is that I have found another talented author, able to take me on a discovering journey into world of BDSM with its many levels. I have found out that I am not always comfortable with some aspects of BDSM in the books I read but Joely Sue Burkhart’s take on it, is one that agrees with me.

DEAR SIR, I’M YOURS is the story of English Literature teacher Dr Verrill “Conn” Connagher and Rae Lynn Jackson. Rae joined his poetry class with ulterior motives and had a final exam that shook her to the core. She fled from the powerful emotions, not able to deal with her feelings and after five years their paths cross again, not entirely by way of coincidence. Conn let her go five years ago but now he is determined to show her there is nothing to be afraid of.

Rae is scared of what she’ll do for Conn, to what lengths she will go to please him. She is scared of losing her own self in her longing to give Conn what he wants and is exploring her feelings and boundaries after letting herself get caught in a bad marriage with an emotionally abusive and manipulative (ex-) husband.

Conn is afraid that Rae will run away again if he pushes her boundaries and does something or demands things from her she is not ready for. He likes to be in control but in a sweet way. He is possessive and (sexually) confident but never overbearing. He wants to be with Rae but he doesn’t want to cross her boundaries.

I was glad I read the prequel first because it gave me the background of what happened between Rae and Conn that lead them to the situation they found themselves in at the beginning of DEAR SIR, I’M YOURS. And the continuation of the letters from Rae at the start of each chapter is one of the things I loved about this story. I would think having so much insight into Rae’s character through her letters, it would take away from getting to know Conn but this was not the case.

The characterization of both main characters was balanced and well done. And there was also room for some intriguing and complementing secondary characters such as Miss Belle (Conn’s grandmother) and Mason Wykes (Conn’s colleague). I wonder whether Mason will have a story of his own some day. He was one of the secondary characters that made an impression on me and would love to see him get his HEA too.

What I liked most about this book was the story build-up. It was done gradually and perfectly. Allowing me, as reader, to go along with Rae in every next step Conn takes her. Conn is the one who is in control but it is Rae who sets the pace in the rekindling of their relationship. The character-development and extensive background for both Rae and Conn makes them well-rounded and multi-faceted characters that both captured my heart and took me with them to their HEA. A journey that was not without complications. The way Joely Sue Burkhart build up the story and characters with their struggles, angst and insecurities did not take away from the intensity or hotness of the love scenes. They were spine tingling and arousing. For me it was erotic romance as it is suppose to be: classy, erotic and emotionally intense.

Another thing I liked was the poetry throughout the story. I have never really been into poetry but this book has stirred my curiosity and the used poems fitted the story perfectly. I will definitely look up some of the mentioned poets and poems.

With DEAR SIR, I’M YOURS, a story of love, sexual discovery and most importantly trust, Joely Sue Burkhart has put herself on my reading map and I am ready for the next story that comes out of her pen (or keyboard).

Quotes:

“Daddy always told me that I’d know the woman I was meant to love by how hard I had to work to control myself when I was with her. You, darlin’, wreck my control with a glance, yet the light in your eyes ties me up in a fragile feather-soft bond I’m unable to break. I don’t want to break it. I want you more than ever, and I’m going to prove to you every moment of every day that you can trust me.”

“What is it with you and white?”“White is virginal innocence, which brings out all my wickedness and debauchery. To a man like me, it’s like waving the white flag of surrender. I see you pure and innocent in white and I can think of nothing else but all the ways I might be able to get that pretty white a bit dirty.”

“You have this image of me controlling your every move, your every thought, bending you to my will alone.” (…) “Demanding and controlling your pleasure, forcing you to pleasure me, tying you up, making you helpless. And yeah, the thought of doing those things to you makes me damned near blow a gasket simply sitting here while I look at you.” (…) “But if you want vanilla missionary then I’ll do that too, just as wildly and passionately, over and over, as many times as you’ll let me. Because it’s you beneath me, Rae. I love you. I want to please you in every way you desire and half a million you haven’t even thought of yet. I’ll give you exactly what you need, every single time.”

Nice to meet you!

Pearl

Netherlands

39, married to my real life romance hero, addicted to TV shows, reading romance novels and Twitter. I'm a chronic (e)book hoarder and my absolute favorite genres within romance fiction are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I don't shy away from historical, paranormal or erotic romance either. Even the occasional (urban) fantasy romance, futuristic and sci fi romance may make it to my Mount TBR. This is my corner of the world wide web where I let you know what books I'm hoarding, reading and reviewing.